Chelsea have reportedly initiated fresh contact to sign AFC Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, viewing the Englishman as a potential successor should Enzo Fernandez depart Stamford Bridge. The Argentine midfielder, who joined the Blues from Benfica in January 2023, remains under contract until 2032 but has recently drawn significant interest from clubs both within England and abroad.
Reports indicate that any club hoping to secure Fernandez must meet a €120 million valuation by Friday, August 15; otherwise, the 26-year-old is expected to remain with the London side. Fernandez is coming off a productive 2025-26 season, during which he made 54 appearances, scored 15 goals, and provided four assists. His league contributions included 10 goals and four assists across 36 starts, though Chelsea ultimately finished 10th and missed out on European qualification.
Amidst the uncertainty, Chelsea have reignited their pursuit of Scott, who is valued at approximately £80 million. While AFC Bournemouth are reportedly reluctant to part with the player, Chelsea are positioning themselves to move forward. Although Arsenal were previously linked to the midfielder, their acquisition of Bruno Guimaraes may have cleared the path for the Blues. Additionally, Chelsea have enquired about Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton as Manchester City continues to monitor Fernandez’s situation.
Fernandez’s profile remains high following his role for Argentina at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. He featured in seven matches for Lionel Scaloni’s side, scoring a stoppage-time winner against Egypt in the Round of 16 after the team recovered from a two-goal deficit. He also netted a crucial equalizer in Argentina’s 2-1 semi-final victory over England.
The midfielder’s tournament concluded on a difficult note during the final against Spain. Fernandez was sent off after receiving a second yellow card in second-half stoppage time. Spain capitalized on the numerical advantage in extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute to secure a 1-0 victory and the World Cup title.
Fernandez, 26, is coming off a decent 2025-26 campaign for the Blues, making 54 appearances across competitions, scoring 15 times and assisting four.
That included 10 strikes and four assists in 36 outings in the Premier League, starting 35, where the Blues finished 10th to miss out on European football.
Despite being contracted to Stamford Bridge till 2032, Fernandez has attracted attention from England and elsewhere.
Arsenal are also reportedly in the fray, but having signed Bruno Guimaraes, they might not go after Scott, leaving the door open for Chelsea to get their main.
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